Over the past 50 years since independence, Bangladesh has made significant socio-economic progress. Despite challenges, the education sector has advanced considerably.
Alongside public universities, over a hundred private universities have been playing an important role in expanding higher education in Bangladesh.
Demand and supply trends show an increase in both the scope and demand for higher education. The question remains, how can we make learning activities more relevant in the context of quality education and evolving socio-economic realities?
Each year, nearly 2.5 million enter in undergraduate level at private universities. But skilled teachers are needed to prepare them. However, do we have the structural framework and quality training programmes required to develop proficient teachers?
One might ask why I am placing so much importance on this issue amid various issues in the education sector in Bangladesh. To me, the whole situation seems like darkness under the lamp.
The education system needs to be thoroughly reformed and it is a long-term task. Education budgets must be increased, although they require 6 per cent of GDP, currently, they do not exceed more than 2 per cent.
Solving these problems will not happen overnight. However, our initiatives in teaching and learning could be much more effective in improving standards.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS), even in 2011, over 75 per cent of teachers in secondary education were trained and skilled. Within a decade, this has dropped to 68 per cent (Daily Bonik Barta, December 5, 2023), which is very concerning.
The need to improve the skills of those responsible for meeting the growing demand for education is often neglected in various ways.
Additionally, a 2022 research report by the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh found that 15 private universities spent nothing on research, 10 spent less than Tk 1,00,000, 19 spent under Tk 5,00,000, and 11 spent between Tk 5,00,000-10,00,000 (Daily Desh Rupantor, January 24, 2024). If even financially capable institutions neglect education and research, how will teacher quality improve?
This issue is crucial because the current government has developed the Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041 and a roadmap for a developed Bangladesh. This roadmap consists of four pillars—Smart Citizen, Smart Society, Smart Economy, and Smart Governance. By 2041, Smart Bangladesh aims to be affordable, sustainable, intelligence-based, knowledge-based, and innovative. The future economy and education system will be knowledge-based.
At the heart of this knowledge-based education and economy are skilled communities. If we become averse to research and fail to adequately develop teachers and students in line with the abovementioned four pillars, it can be naturally said that achieving the goals by 2041 will be challenging.
Post-independence, the education sector gained importance despite various limitations. Numerous schools and universities were established during this time, and visible improvements in infrastructure and teacher recruitment were made.
However, the desired development in education has not been achieved predominantly due to the lack of proper training for the teachers. The current government is working to make training programmes for teachers mandatory at every level from primary to university. Under the National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE), 68 Primary Teacher Training Institutes (PTIs) are conducting training programmes for teachers.
The UGC has started training programmes under the University Teachers Training Academy to improve university teachers. The National University has developed a “Teacher Training Master Plan” to bring all college teachers under a training programme. The National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM) is providing modern training, including basics.
The government's initiatives are indeed commendable. We indeed have limitations, as the number of training institutions is far fewer compared to the number of teachers in all educational institutions in the country.
BRAC University wants to play a role in addressing this crisis. In our proposed new Learning and Teaching Innovation Centre, we will develop proficient teachers.
We have already designed the framework for this innovation centre. We hope to create the best teachers here, who will in turn produce the smart students of the future.
Initially, we will arrange training for teachers who have not had the opportunity to be trained. Teachers from other universities will also have the opportunity to receive training at BRAC University.
I believe that seeing BRAC University’s efforts, other universities will also be encouraged to regularly train their teachers.
To build a prosperous world, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed KCMG founded BRAC University in 2001 with the grand aim of fostering educated future leaders through education that combines humane values, modern knowledge, and advanced research. Our goal is to assist students in developing empathy, creativity, and entrepreneurial drive so they can succeed despite extensive social changes and shape themselves as future leaders.
For nearly two decades, BRAC University has made significant contributions to research and quality education in Bangladesh. In recent years, it has spent the most on research among universities in the country.
According to the 2022 annual report by the UGC, BRAC University spent Tk 58.83 crore on research. The university has also set an example in Bangladesh with its research seed grant initiative, granting funds to 26 research projects in 2022 and 2023. The funding ranged from a maximum of Tk 19 lakh to a minimum of Tk 60,000, totalling nearly Tk 3.5 crore.
BRAC University's researchers are internationally recognised for their research quality. In acknowledgement of their outstanding contributions to academic excellence and fruitful research, the university has introduced the "Quality Journal Publication Award." Between 2021 and 2023, BRAC University researchers published 1,162 studies in Scopus-indexed journals, with 609 of them in top-tier journals.
We believe universities not only produce graduates but also play a crucial role in the socio-economic and technological advancement of the country. BRAC University, a leading force in BRAC's social movement, aims for its graduates to always support the underprivileged in society and set an example for others.
Since its establishment, BRAC University has brought positive changes to higher education in Bangladesh. We aim to lead the journey towards improving the quality of higher education in the country by maintaining excellence in teaching and learning.
Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz is the acting Vice Chancellor of BRAC University
